We are a few weeks away from the start of another holiday season, and that means planning celebrations is in full effect.
Is your company benefitting from the opportunities available this holiday season?
If the answer to that question is no, then read on to learn how you can make the most of this time of year.
Some companies experience a lull in activity during the holidays. If yours falls into that category, I want to give you a way to reframe how you look at the company holiday party.
Bringing in a profit is not the only way to experience a benefit: cultivating customer loyalty, boosting employee morale and increasing vendor satisfaction can indirectly affect your bottom line, and you can use holiday celebrations to do each of these.
Here are 3 types of events you can host that will create a win for everyone involved:
Customer Appreciation
People do business with companies they know, like and trust. During the year, we are busy with our work, so we do not usually think to take the time to let customers know that we value their business. The holidays are the perfect time to do that.
Win-win: Genuinely acknowledging your customers fosters a sense of appreciation that you might not otherwise convey in your day-to-day dealings. Everyone likes to feel valued and hosting a customer appreciation event will go a long way in nurturing their sense of importance to your business beyond the dollars they bring in.
As Richard Branson famously said, “If you take care of your employees, they will take care of your clients.” Click To TweetVendor/Supplier Recognition
For businesses who host a lot of events, you come to rely on specific vendors and suppliers without whom your event would not happen.
While it is great to be in tune with a particular supplier’s needs, why not go one step further in cultivating vendor loyalty to show your appreciation of the relationship? Hosting an event that celebrates all of your suppliers and vendors helps everyone in a few ways.
Win-win: Not only are you showing your appreciation for their dedication and service throughout the year, but you are also offering the chance for networking as well. Vendors and suppliers who otherwise might not have the opportunity to encounter one another can meet and improve their business opportunities, expanding their networks and referral partners. Creating an opportunity such as this positions you as a trusted business partner.
Employee Morale Boosting/Team Building
As Richard Branson famously said, “If you take care of your employees, they will take care of your clients.” The holidays are the perfect time for appreciating your employees for making your company look good all year long and to keep it coming in the new year.
Win-win: Employee acknowledgment does a few things. It could serve as a morale booster, team building or motivation to keep up the good work. When an employee knows that you pay attention to what they are doing at work and value their contributions, they will continue to rise to the challenge which is exactly what Richard Branson meant by taking care of your employees.
It is a good idea to weave events such as these into your company’s business strategy to cultivate these all-important relationships.
The relaxed atmosphere that events provide, outside of regular business hours, can go a long way in cementing the mutual loyalty you have for all the relationships that form the basis of your successful business.